Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) Nursing Practice Test 2026 – All-in-One Guide to Master Your Certification!

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a complex condition that results from the widespread activation of the clotting cascade, leading to the formation of blood clots throughout the small blood vessels. Among different types of cancers, acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), a subtype of leukemia, is most commonly associated with DIC.

The mechanism behind this association involves the release of procoagulant factors from the malignant cells. In APL, the cells release tissue factor, which activates the coagulation cascade and leads to the clinical picture of DIC. This condition is a medical emergency and is characterized by bleeding due to the exhaustion of clotting factors and platelets, alongside both thrombotic and hemorrhagic symptoms.

While other cancers might have associations with DIC, they are not as prevalent as in APL. For instance, breast cancer and colon cancer have not demonstrated a significant or direct link with DIC in the same way. Lymphomas can also contribute to DIC, but the overwhelmingly notable connection is with APL, making leukemia—specifically acute promyelocytic leukemia—the correct answer to this question.